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10 Questions with ... Kirby Ray
April 10, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- 104.1 - Berkeley Free Radio -- On-air personality - Berkeley, CA, 94-96
- KCGQ (Real Rock 99.3)/ Cape Girardeau, MO, '97-current
- KGKS (Kiss 93.9)/Cape Girardeau, MO -- On-air personality, 2005-current
- KLSC (The River 92.9)/Cape Girardeau, MO -- On-air personality, 2008-current
- KBSI (Fox 23)/Cape Girardeau, MO -- On-air personality, 2000-2004
- KFVS 12/Cape Girardeau, MO -- On-air personality, 2000-current
1) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?
I realized I wanted to be in radio as a child in the '70s. I was listening to St Louis' Real Rock Radio KSHE 95 as well as the station I am now PD of, KCGQ (Q99). I loved the Rock radio format and still do. While living in California in the mid-'90s with my band, I was offered the opportunity to train myself on 104.1 -- Berkeley Free Radio. From there, I moved back home to Cape Girardeau and got a job as an on-air personality and webmaster for a cluster of stations owned by Zimmer Radio Group.
2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
What to me makes our market unique is the ability to be an Active/Mainstream Rock station in the heartland of the U.S.A. The listeners are very open to Active, Southern Rock and Mainstream Rock all on the same station. The only other Rock station in our market is all Classic Rock, which gives us the opportunity to give our listeners the only new rock music locally.
3) What can we be doing with our station websites to better our stations as a whole?
We should offer exciting content and music news daily to our listeners online to keep them coming back often. We have been posting more video of our events and in-studio guests on our official page and Facebook page to bring more traffic.
4) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?
The best concert I have been to this year was VNV Nation at the Firebird in St Louis. due to the connection vocalist Ronan Harris made with the audience. I have seen some amazing shows over the years, but the connectivity this band made with the crowd was second to none.
5) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Work hard and never forget your roots. Treat people as you want to be treated. Have respect for others.
6) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
We did an all-station event last year called "Jammin' for Japan & SEMO" which was a relief concert to raise donations for tsunami relief in Japan as well as flood and tornado relief in here in Missouri. It was a two-day event with 20 of the best local bands with 100% of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
7) How do you interact with your sales staff?
I feel that we have a very hard working sales staff, and I always love brainstorming with them on ideas for all of our stations.
8) In today's world of multi-tasking and wearing many hats, how do you find time to show prep and what sources do you use?
Show prep is one of the first things I do each day at work on news and Rock news to stay aware of important things myself and our listeners will want to know and need to know. I use AP Newsdesk - All Access - yahoo.com - http://antimusic.com - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news - Blabbermouth.net
9) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
Work hard and keep trying. Never give up & treat people with respect.
10) Who would be your dream guest on the show?
AC/DC, which is my favorite band, hard-working down-to-earth guys who got the respect they deserve by doing what they love. I am so proud of them!
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